Half-centuries from Jim Troughton and Tony Frost gave Warwickshire the upper hand on day one of their Championship division two match against Middlesex.

The hosts began impressively, reducing Warwickshire to 78-4 with Steven Finn picking up two wickets in the top-of-the-table game at Uxbridge.

But Troughton and Frost shared a stand of 157 before the latter was clean bowled by Alan Richardson for 82.

Troughton, 83 not out, and Ant Botha led their side to 271-5 at the close.

Warwickshire captain Darren Maddy smashing three early boundaries but was trapped lbw by Tim Murtagh for 18 playing across the line.

Michael Powell set off in similar fashion, hitting consecutive boundaries from his first two balls, before being surprised by a ball from Danny Evans which rose sharply to give Ed Joyce a smart catch at third slip.

Evans bowled a superb opening spell and it was not until his fourth over that he conceded his first run.

With 71 on the board, Navdeep Poonia, who had taken 46 balls to get off the mark, fell to a breathtaking catch behind the stumps by Middlesex wicketkeeper Ben Scott, low to his right, off Finn.

Finn snapped up his second wicket in the last over before lunch when Trott was caught behind for 18, beaten by a full-length delivery when looking to drive.

Troughton was fortunate to survive a difficult chance off Murali Kartik when the left-hander had reached 32, with Joyce spilling a catch at short leg.